Every night on my way to bed I would grab a big handful of gluten free crackers and stuff them in my face. If you read my New Year’s post on Making Changes you’ll see that I listed eliminating this practice as a 2018 goal (it was on the 2017 list too!) It seemed that no matter how hard I tried to resist this habit, nothing worked. I decided that the best way to stop was to make a plan. And I wanted a plan that would not only stop this one bad habit, but one that would also stop me from eating like an animal at night. Of everything I tried, here are the six most effective ways that helped me stop stuffing my face late in the day.

YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT! These are five of the most powerful weight loss words that need to be part of your vocabulary! After the new year I need a reset to downsize my middle and figured many of you would too! That’s why I’m so excited to announce this weight loss challenge! Many women over fifty believe the secret to a slimmer body is exercise. While it is extremely important to move, your nutrition is paramount. Instead of giving you the exact foods to eat, I’ve laid out a simple nutrition philosophy for you to follow. The emphasis is on eating real food in moderate amounts when you’re hungry.

Many women believe that once they turn fifty they are destined to be fat. While it is true that your metabolism does slow down as you age, increasing your activity and concentrating on your nutrition can help keep those extra pounds away. You may not be able to eat everything you want (something I never could do at any age!) but by making some adjustments to your daily routine you will be able to boost your metabolism and stay slimmer.

I love bite-size foods because they allow you to get the tastes you crave without needing to have a large portion of the foods you desire. If you watched my video, “Bagels, My #1 Guilty Pleasure” you’ll know that I’ve had a lifetime love affair with this magical creation. I do limit my consumption of bagels because most contain a lot of calories and carbs, but I have learned many ways to reduce these and those tips are contained in my video. But sometimes I want the taste, chew and mouth feel of a real New York bagel and when I do, I eat a Bantam Bagel.

Losing weight after fifty is not easy and that’s why I constantly encourage women over fifty to add exercise to their daily routine. Recently I was shocked when a woman asked me “Am I too fat to exercise in public?” My first thought was no way! I’ve been a gym rat for over forty years and I have never viewed anyone as inappropriate for “public viewing.” I struggle with weight just like everyone else and when my weight goes up I would never allow my size to keep me from the gym or an exercise studio.